Ingush Nation No Longer Places Any Trust or Hope in Kalimatov, Mutsolgov Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 13 – Because Ingush head Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov has been “in deep self-isolation” since the time of his appointment and has refused to meet with society, the Ingush people do not trust him or have any expectations that he will serve their interests in the future, Mogamed Mutsolgov, head of the Mashr legal aid organization says.

            “The overwhelming majority of the people of Ingushetia have come to terms with the fact that the powers that be do not have any notions about law and justice,” he continues. As a result, “society has decided to act independently without any interaction with the authorities” (caucasustimes.com/ru/magomed-mucolgov-glava-ingushetii-nahoditsja-v-glubokoj-samoizoljacii/).

            According to Mutsolgov, “the people of Ingushetia have not forgiven the authorities for their traitorous anti-people policy, their harsh repressions and the unjust attitude toward participants in the protests.” Law enforcement agencies act not to protect the legal rights of the people but only the narrow interests of those in power.

            But this has only happened because officials in Magas feel that they need to respond only to Moscow rather than to the Ingush people and know that Moscow backs precisely their approach to the problems of the population.  They lie when Moscow needs them to as when they reported that 70 percent of Ingush took part in the July 1 vote. That is absolute nonsense.

            “With each year in regard to the subjects of the Russian Federation and especially the national republics, there has been a reduction in their authority and an attack on their statehood, national languages, culture, traditions, and many other fundamental constitutional norms, adopted earlier in the interests of the peoples and regions of our country,” Mutsolgov says.

            And he adds, “to my enormous regret, I do not expect anything from the current powers that be. I have no illusions. I see that the country is being transformed into a closed stock company in ‘the best traditions of the Sicilian mafia’ and one with a great desire to return serfdom.”

            The only thing I still hope for,” the Ingush activist says, “is that the people of Russia will now allow this to be carried out.”

            Meanwhile, there were two other noteworthy developments in Ingushetia.  The first was the publication of a letter from imprisoned Ingush activist Ismail Nalgiyev who details the ways in which jailors and investigators continue to violate the law with their threats against inmates, including Zarifa Sautiyeva (kavkaz-uzel.eu/blogs/342/posts/44068).

            And the second was a report that United Russia has expelled Yakub Belkhoroyev, the Popular Assembly deputy who has been charged with massive corruption. Apparently even his Chechen connections are not going to be able to save him (doshdu.com/edinaja-rossija-iskljuchila-iz-svoih-rjadov-arestovannogo-deputata-jakuba-belhoroeva/).